Percepção de familiares de usuário de um centro de atenção psicossocial sobre o cuidado em saúde mental.

Abstract

Based on reflections about the Psychiatric Reform movement and the deinstitutionalization process of mental health care, this study aimed to investigate the perceptions of family members of users with mental disorders in a Psychosocial Care Center (CAPS) in the "Alto Sertão Paraibano" , on mental health care; characterize the socioeconomic profile of these family members and identify their mental health care practices. This is an exploratory, descriptive study with a qualitative approach. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 family members, aged between 22 and 63 years old, 17 of whom were female. The interviews were analyzed using thematic content analysis technique, according to Bardin's proposal. From the analysis, two themes emerged: 1) Caring as love and renunciation and 2) Caring as a medicalization process. The practice of caring provided by family members is permeated with feelings and actions such as love, affection, attention, resignation, patience, balance, charity, dedication and responsibility. Medication administration and follow-up consultations also stand out as objective practices. It was observed that, although the current public policies on mental health outline the care for people with mental suffering, in the socio-family context, causing an overload of work for family caregivers, they were not properly cared for by the CAPS team of professionals. Care needs to transcend the limits of the institutional sphere to encompass the concrete reality of these family members.